 If you've somehow resisted eating all your newly harvested strawberries, here's a few tips for keeping them in good shape for enjoying later. Wash as you go is the most important rule. Strawberries soak up water like sponges, making them mushy and shortening their shelf life. Wash them only just before eating. Rule number two is leave the stems on. Pulling or cutting the stem makes them prone to spoilage. And thirdly, when storing in the refrigerator, use the crisper drawer. Keep them in a ventilated container lined with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture.